title: Human T cell growth factor (TCGF) produced by repeated stimulation of non-adherent human lymphocytes.
abstract: T cell growth factor (TCGF) has become a valuable means of maintaining T lymphocytes in long-term culture and of studying T cell function. Numerous problems have been met in the production of TCGF of consistently good quality and in the maintenance of human T cell lines over long periods. We have investigated optimal conditions for TCGF production, and simplified assay systems for TCGF activity. The best TCGF production was obtained by short-term treatment with high concentrations of phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The TCGF producing lymphocytes could be re-used for TCGF production up to 1 month after the first treatment course. Human cultured T cell lines, fresh lymphocytes, short-term PHA stimulated lymphocytes and cultured marmoset T lymphocyte lines were all used for assay of TCGF. We recommend PHA stimulation of human lymphocytes for this assay on a routine basis, comparing results with a standard TCGF batch and calculating a growth index. Adherent cells impair TCGF production. Optimal TCGF production was seen when lymphocyte preparations without adherent cells from different donors were used.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002143:Callitrichinae; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D012756:Sheep; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D008222:Lymphokines; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols